MLB Player News

The Pirates optioned Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

As expected, Mlodzinski will head back to the minors while the Pirates open up a spot in the rotation for right-hander Mike Burrows, who was called up from Triple-A in advance of his first MLB start Thursday versus the Brewers. After winning a spot in the Opening Day rotation coming out of spring training, Mlodzinski struggled over his nine starts, going 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 39.2 innings. He might stay stretched out as a member of the Indianapolis rotation, but Mlodzinski could be ticketed for the bullpen the next time he receives a call-up to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates recalled Burrows from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh had been expected to wait until Thursday to make Burrows' promotion official, but he'll join the big club a day in advance of his first MLB start Thursday against the Brewers at PNC Park. He'll be joining the rotation as a replacement for righty Carmen Mlodzinski, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old righty has been a standout performer at Indianapolis this season, logging a 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 39:9 K:BB across 30 innings.

Blanco has been sent back to Houston to be evaluated after reporting right elbow soreness Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Blanco had been scheduled to start this weekend against the Mariners, but his status is now up in the air as he gets examined by doctors Wednesday. An update on the right-hander's condition should be available later this week.

Triple-A Indianapolis placed Barco on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.

Barco sustained the injury at some point during his most recent start for Indianapolis last Thursday, when he was lifted midway through the first inning after allowing two earned runs on one hit and three walks. The 24-year-old lefty had enjoyed a strong start to the season prior to that outing, producing a 0.30 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 39:10 K:BB across 30 innings over his seven starts between Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona.

The Orioles optioned McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

McDermott struggled in a spot start Wednesday versus the Brewers, yielding three runs on four hits and five walks over 4.2 frames. With McDermott now in the minors, the Orioles will have an opening in their rotation Sunday in Boston.

The Pirates are expected to option Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

After working primarily in relief over his first two seasons in the big leagues, Mlodzinski surprisingly emerged from spring training as a member of the Pirates' Opening Day rotation, but he always appeared to be little more than a placeholder until one of Pittsburgh's many starting pitching prospects was deemed big-league ready. Right-hander Mike Burrows is in line to get a call-up from Triple-A and will enter the rotation Thursday against the Brewers in place of Mlodzinski, who covered five innings in just three of his nine starts on the season while submitting a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 8.9 K-BB%. He'll presumably stay stretched out as a member of the rotation at Indianapolis, though Mlodzinski could work out of the bullpen the next time he gets the call back to the big club.

The Pirates plan to recall Burrows from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Thursday's game against the Brewers at PNC Park, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Burrows will be joining the big-league rotation as a replacement for Carmen Mlodzinski, who is expected to be optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Though he's been part of a prospect-laden rotation at Indianapolis that includes Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft, Burrows has been as impressive as any of the lot this season. Over his seven outings (six starts), Burrows has delivered a 2.40 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 39:9 K:BB in 30 innings. He'll have a chance to build some security in the Pittsburgh rotation if he's able to deliver a credible outing against the Brewers in what will be his first MLB start.

The Astros optioned Walter to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Walters spun five scoreless frames and struck out five in a start Tuesday versus the Rays, but he nonetheless finds himself back in the minors a day later. The left-hander has likely earned future starts at some point later this season.

Buehler didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Mets, walking two batters and striking out four over 2.1 scoreless, no-hit innings before being ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.

The right-hander was looking good in his first big-league outing since April 26, racking up 16 called or swinging strikes among his 52 pitches, but it was a call Buehler didn't get against Juan Soto that brought his night to an abrupt end. The important takeaway from the performance was that Buehler's shoulder seemed healthy. He sports a 4.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB through 36 innings on the season, and he'll look to keep his emotions in check in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Orioles.

The Reds optioned Petty to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

After Cincinnati chose to bypass Petty for a start last Saturday against the Guardians and instead opted for a bullpen day when the fifth spot in the rotation came up, the writing was on the wall for the 22-year-old righty to head back to the minors. He's been roughed up in both of his two starts for the Reds this season, covering 5.1 innings while coughing up 13 earned runs on 13 hits and eight walks.